Leaning building owner's son-in-law offers building to South Whitley Town Council for $1
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) The leaning building, above, is at the center of an ongoing issue being addressed by the South Whitley Town Council. A family member of the building's owner came forth at the South Whitley Town Council meeting to offer the building to the town for $1.
From the Tribune-News
The status of a leaning building on State Street continued to plague the South Whitley town council at its April 13 meeting. The building is owned by Betty Deaton and is attached to a portion of the Green Parrot business next door. The council had given Gary Hicks, former owner of Hicks and Deaton Hardware, until March 31, 2010 to have the building torn down. The question of how tearing down half of the building will affect the Green Parrot portion remains. Hicks and Deaton Hardware closed in 2009 and its main building is for sale.
Whitley County Building Inspector Craig Wagner attended the meeting seeking direction from the council. Since the building had not been torn down by the March 31, 2010 deadline, Wagner wanted to know whether to advertise for demolition bids. If the town has the building demolished, the only recourse to recoup expenses would be to place a lien on the property. The question of what to do if the remaining part of the structure is then out of compliance with building safety ordinances would still have to be addressed.
Hicks also attended the meeting with an offer to the town to donate the building for one dollar. Hicks pointed that after demolition the property could be used for green space or additional parking.
“Susan and I have always been proactive and wanted to see improvements in town,” Hicks said, referring to creation of a park in place of the building.
Clerk-Treasurer Mitch Winger was puzzled by Hicks’ offer.
“I don’t see the improvement to the town if we tear down the building and make a garden spot or parking lot,” Winger said, adding that he realizes it may turnout to be the only option.
Both Joan Eberhart and John Dunn, council members present at the meeting, said that they would not make any decision on the offer without consulting town attorney Greg Hockemeyer, citing possible financial burdens to the town. Hockemeyer and the third council member, Tonya Porter, were not in attendance.
After the council tabled the offer for a later meeting, Hicks said that he assumed that another extension for demolition would be granted.
“I don’t want Craig Wagner to give me 10 days notice for demolition because you won’t make a decision,” Hicks said.
In other business, Winger provided an update on the town park board membership. Members are: Ron Anderson, president; Vicki Sprunger, treasurer; Katie Till, vice-president; Teresa Smith; Sue Mulligan; and Colleen French, advisory member.
Representing the police department, Mike Vandevender answered a question from Laurie Kirkendall about the criteria on issuing citations and warnings of violations of town ordinances.
“We give a warning and then two weeks to comply. We do this based on precedent,” he explained. Vandevender noted that he was referring to ordinances concerning weeds, health, and abandoned vehicles.